Capital outlays would expand library, landfill

County Executive Eileen M. Rehrmann's $50 million capital budget, released Friday, includes $250,000 to plan an addition to the Bel Air Library and $1.75 million to expand the Scarboro Landfill.

The County Council has until May 31 to make changes in the capital budget, which will take effect July 1 for fiscal 1995.

The capital budget is half as large as fiscal 1994's budget. Most of the $100 million in the fiscal 1994 budget was appropriated in advance for construction of the Sod Run sewage treatment plant and Whiteford treatment plant sewer lines. Larry W. Klimovitz, director of administration, said the money had to be set aside to get state and federal funds for the projects.

Under the fiscal 1995 proposed capital budget, $1.75 million in fiscal 1995, and another $1.75 million in fiscal 1996, would build two underground storage areas for trash at Scarboro Landfill in Hickory.

The landfill has seven such areas, but they will be filled within two years, Mr. Klimovitz said.

The $250,000 for the Bel Air Library would be used to pay architects and other expenses to plan the addition and renovations.

The library's square footage would nearly double, from 23,000 square feet to 54,000 square feet, when the project is completed.

Money in the capital budget, which is used to fund major construction projects, comes from several sources, including $17 million in federal and state funds.

The county can also use cash, called "pay-go" funds, or sell bonds to finance projects. It can also use revenues from the transfer tax, levied on all real estate transfers beginning last July 1, for certain projects.

The transfer tax, whose revenue is split evenly between school construction and the county's agricultural preservation program, is expected to raise about $3 million before the end of fiscal 1994. In addition to funding school projects, the county was able to buy easement rights on 7,600 acres of farmland to keep it from being developed, Mr. Klimovitz said.

The county expects to received $4 million in transfer tax revenue in fiscal 1995.

Half will go to the school system to finance several large projects, including $400,000 for new roofs and a $250,000 boiler for Edgewood High. The other half will go to protect more farmland.

Other school projects in the capital budget that are not financed by the transfer tax include a new dormitory at the Harford Glen Environmental Education Center in Bel Air and a classroom addition and second gymnasium for C. Milton Wright High, also in Bel Air.

Mrs. Rehrmann denied the school system some items on its wish list, including a new administration building. The school system, which has its administration offices in several buildings, has been asking for a new headquarters for about 30 years.

The capital budget also includes $480,000 to build the Edgewood Senior Center, which would open next year. The state is contributing the additional $300,000 needed for the building.

There is also $4.4 million in county money to build an addition to the Detention Center. The state has promised $5.1 million to complete the project.